ABSTRACT
Since their initial discovery by Röntgen in 1895,1,2 X-rays have represented a unique tool for investigation of matter. Their powerful combination of short wavelength and penetrating nature make X-rays ideal for performing structural measurements within bulk systems. Shortly after their discovery it was determined that X-rays are also sensitive to the elemental composition of a given sample, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy was born in the early 20th century.3 The last century has seen a rapid development of X-ray sources in order to increase their brilliance, allowing experiments to be performed that only a few short decades ago were inconceivable. As an illustration of their impact on scientic research, 19 Nobel Prizes have been awarded to researchers working with X-rays in the elds of chemistry, physics, and medicine between 1900 and 2008.4 X-ray absorption and emission spectroscopy are now
1.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................1 1.2 Laboratory Sources ...........................................................................................2
